Scripting is a great tool for performing a variety of tasks. A script can be as simple as an automated common task or as complex as an entire new feature. You can create your own scripts, and you can run scripts that other people have created. For more information on scripting, see the Scripting Guide, scripting requirements, and other developer resources at http://www.adobe.com/devnet/indesign/documentation.html.
The Scripting Guide contains an introduction to scripting and tutorials. You can also find a number of useful scripts that you can run, such as a script that draws guides around the selected object. Some of these scripts appear by default in the Scripts panel.
InDesign includes two panels for scripting: the Scripts panel and the Script Label panel.
The Scripts panel is where you run scripts without leaving InDesign. The Scripts panel displays the scripts that are located in the Scripts folders in the InDesign application folder and in your Preferences folders. If you create or receive a script, you can place it in the Scripts Panel folder so that it shows up in the Scripts panel.
Mac OS
Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/Adobe InDesign/[version]/[language]/Scripts/Scripts Panel
Windows XP
Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Adobe\InDesign\[version]\[language]\Scripts\Scripts Panel
Windows Vista and Windows 7
Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\InDesign\[version]\[language]\Scripts\Scripts Panel
Note:
A quick way to locate the Scripts Panel folder is to right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) a script in the Scripts panel, and choose Reveal In Explorer (Windows) or Reveal In Finder (Mac OS).
You can then double-click a script in the Scripts panel to run it, or you can run scripts using Quick Apply.
The Script Label panel lets you specify a label for a page item, such as a text frame or shape. Specifying labels for page items is especially useful for writing scripts in which you need to identify an object.
Note:
For detailed information on adding, running, and editing scripts, see the Scripting Guide on the Adobe website at http://www.adobe.com/devnet/indesign/documentation.html.
CornerEffects
Re-draws the path of the selected item or items using a variety of corner effects. Corner effects can be applied to selected points on the path.
FindChangeByList
Performs a series of common text find/change operations by reading a tab-delimited text file.
PathEffects
Changes the position of path points on the selected object or objects to add a creative effect.
For more information on installing and using these sample scripts, see www.adobe.com/go/learn_id_scripting_readme_cs5_en (PDF).